City Council to consider taxi regulations

New or reinforced taxi cab regulations now before City Council would require that all be painted “National School Bus Glossy Yellow” by mid-2018 and that all drivers undergo a two-hour training course.

The yellow cab requirement has been on the books for years but not enforced. Other changes would restrict the age of vehicles to no more than 10 years, with possible exceptions for historic vehicles in good condition. As a safety measure, the city would begin requiring panic lights on the bumper with a push button for drivers to alert police if there is a problem.

There are about 300 registered taxis in the city.

The latest amendments, introduced this week, come after two years of discussion and meetings, said Carolee Conklin, who leads the City Council’s Finance Committee and introduced the legislation along with Council President Loretta Scott.